“Her Highest Praises Were Mocking Insults”—What It’s Like Growing Up With a Narcissist for a Parent

“My childhood was spent wishing someone would come visit so my mom would behave herself. Her highest praises were mocking insults. When in the course of childhood, we inconvenienced her by bonking our heads or having bad dreams—or even if we achieved something spectacular—it would be met with the same disinterest. And if it was too special, we’d get a verbal backhand to pull us back down to earth. A narcissistic parent grooms you into feeling so unworthy and uncomfortable around good treatment that you stay the course. We keep repeating patterns, not understanding why we don’t seem to be able to break them.” —Bridget